Dream Evil were originally formed in 1999 by guitarist/producer
Fredrik Nordström and guitarist
Gus G. as an outlet for their interest in classic power metal of the
Dio/
Judas Priest/
Accept school. And though
Gus G. left in 2004 to concentrate on
Firewind (and now his gig as
Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist),
Nordström has kept the torch aloft, releasing
United in 2006 and now this album.
In the Night is as goofy and over the top as anything the group's done in the past, up to and including 2004's classic
The Book of Heavy Metal. The lyrics to songs like "Bang Your Head," "Kill, Burn, Be Evil," the title track, and the hilarious "The Ballad" are as nonsensical and awesome as anything ever written by
Judas Priest or
Manowar. Perhaps more importantly, the music is gloriously anthemic, every song driven by a fist-pumping riff with a chorus that virtually demands singing along and a shredtastic guitar solo. Unlike, say,
DragonForce, though, the solos in
Dream Evil songs always arise naturally out of, and serve, the song as a whole. And the production is superb, displaying the modern high-tech crunch of
In Flames or other melodic Swedish outfits while holding to classic songwriting traditions.
Dream Evil understand the difference between timeless and retro, and stay on the right side of that line throughout this excellent album.